Parish Council Minutes March 2020
by The Clerk | posted in: Agendas & Minutes | 0
BRERETON AND RAVENHILL PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Parish Council meeting held at the Parish Hall, Ravenhill Park, Brereton, on Tuesday, 3rd March 2020.

Present

Councillors TA Jones [Chairman], K Ansell, Mrs P Ansell [Vice-Chairman], Ms IJ Brown,

Mrs DM Easton, Alderman R Easton, Mrs G Harvey, JC Harvey, DR Johnson and GN Molineux.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors PA Fisher, Mrs W Fisher and Mrs L Johnson.

Mr PG Davies, the Parish Clerk, was also in attendance.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

No declarations were given at the commencement of the meeting.

MINUTES

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 4th February 2020 be approved and signed as a correct record.

POLICE

The Police were not in attendance at the meeting.

‘SMART ALERT’

The Council noted that the Clerk had circulated details of ‘Smart Alert’. Members were encouraged to sign up to the platform to receive regular updates from the Police.

BRERETON AND RAVENHILL CANAL SCHEME

The Parish Council expressed concern in respect of a recent press article in which the Canal and River Trust were claiming ‘glory’ for this scheme.

Members acknowledged that if it had not been for the due diligence of the Chairman, this scheme would not have come to fruition. The whole project was initiated by the Parish Council in securing funding from Lichfield District Council. It would not have proceeded without the input from the Parish Council and for the Canal and River Trust to now claim it was at their instigation was a total misrepresentation of the position.

The Chairman would liaise with the Clerk in issuing a press release on behalf of the Parish Council.

[Councillor DR Johnson declared a personal interest in this item and took no part in the discussion thereon.]

BUS STOPS

The Parish Council noted that work on replacing bus shelters would commence on 5th March 2020.

Members noted that Arriva considered that the replacement shelter at Setterfield Way should be positioned in exactly the same position as the old shelter.

RESOLVED

That the CIL monies received from the District Council be utilised to purchase the new bus shelter in Setterfield Way.
That the Clerk write to Brereton Million requesting the first tranche of the maintenance payment in the sum of £2,000.00.
That the Clerk arrange to insure all of the new shelters with Zurich.

CHASE LINE’S PERFORMANCE

The Chairman reported that despite all the representations made by the Parish Council, the service provided by West Midlands Railway continued to be in total chaos. On one evening in the previous week, seven trains had been turned around at Hednesford.

BENCH IN FRONT OF THE VICARAGE

Alderman R Easton undertook to arrange for this bench to be repaired. He would update the Parish Council on the work done at the next meeting.

DOCUMENTATION

The Clerk tabled, for circulation to Members, the latest Employer Update on the County Superannuation Scheme.

NEEDLE IN ALLEYWAY BETWEEN ARMITAGE ROAD AND ATTLEE CRESCENT

The Chairman referred to a parishioner drawing his attention to the above. The person concerned had carefully disposed of the needle.

RESOLVED

That the Clerk refer this matter to the Police and in so doing, he stress the Parish Council’s concern and request that this and other areas be carefully monitored on a more regular basis.

REDBROOK LANE

The Chairman reported that he had received representations from a local resident regarding the poor state of Redbrook Lane. The noise created by HGVs in the early hours of the morning as a result of the many potholes and poor road surface, was causing considerable disturbance to local residents.

The Parish Council noted that as HGVs used the road on a regular basis, it required more regular maintenance than an ordinary residential road.

RESOLVED

That this matter be referred to County Highways, with a request that urgent action is taken to improve the surface of the road.

PARKS AND OPEN SPACES SURVEY

The Parish Council noted that as part of the preparation of the new Local Plan, the District Council were seeking views on Parks and Open Spaces. The Clerk had circulated details of the survey to all Members.

The Chairman kindly undertook to complete the survey on behalf of the Parish Council.

WORLD BOOK NIGHT

Members noted that, on this occasion, the Parish Council’s application to participate in World Book Night had not been successful.

OVERGROWN HEDGEROWS – VARIOUS LOCATIONS

The Clerk circulated an email which Sarah Hands had sent to Amanda Milling, MP, in respect of the above.

RESOLVED

That the Clerk refer this matter to the County Council and request that urgent action is taken to cut back the overgrown hedgerows etc. before the bird nesting season.

FLOODING – ARMITAGE ROAD – VEHICLES IN ARMITAGE LANE

The Clerk circulated an email from Sarah Hands outlining issues relating to the above. Members concurred with the views expressed and it was

RESOLVED

That the email be referred to the County Council with a request that urgent action is taken to deal with these matters.

PROHIBITION AND RESTRICTION OF WAITING – WHEELHOUSE ROAD

The Clerk circulated a notice received from the County Council in respect of these proposals. A plan had not been sent with the notice.

RESOLVED

That the Clerk request a copy of a plan showing the extent of the proposals and this be circulated to all Members.

WALL – WHARF ROAD

The Chairman referred to the danger still being created by this wall which was leaning over the footpath, forcing pedestrians onto the road.

RESOLVED

That this matter be referred to the County Council with a request that urgent action is taken to require the new owners to carry out necessary repairs.

BUS SERVICE PROVISION

The Chairman referred to the Government making extra funding available to enhance bus services.

RESOLVED

That the Clerk write to the local MP asking her to use her best endeavours to secure funding for the following:-

the provision of a bus service along Armitage Road;
the reinstatement of the bus service to Stile Cop Cemetery;
the provision of services going north from Brereton and Ravenhill via Rugeley and Uttoxeter [possibly via Colton and Abbots Bromley];
an extension to Service 824 which serves Rugeley – various estates and Birch Lane but does not operate back into Rugeley after 1.35 pm. Extra journeys after this time would not only benefit local school children but also the elderly.

PLANNING COMMITTEE

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 4th February 2020, be approved.

PARISH HALL AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Parish Hall and Property Management Committee held on 5th February 2020, be approved.

FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Finance and Management Committee held on 5th February 2020, be approved.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The Parish Council had previously agreed that the next meeting would be held on

7th April 2020, followed by the Annual Parish Meeting.

PUBLIC FORUM

The Chairman duly adjourned the meeting to enable the parishioners present to address the Parish Council. The following issues were raised:-

overgrown hedges – blocked and broken drains and culverts – Armitage Road;

Alderman Easton kindly undertook to contact the County Council to secure their approval to enable the Parish Council to voluntarily cut back the hedgerows. The Clerk would draw the attention of the County Council to the blocked and broken drains and culverts;

the Mayor of the West Midlands had indicated that if West Midlands Railway did not improve their level of service by 31st March 2020, he would support action to terminate their franchise;

concern was expressed by a local resident in respect of the decision of Cannock Chase District Council to allocate £90,000.00 for car parking meters prior to proper evaluation of the consequential implications for town centre retailers of the new retail park;

noise created by access gate into park. Councillor Molineux would request the permission of the District Council for the Parish Council to remedy the problem;

Peter Johnson introduced himself to the Parish Council and advised that he would be putting his name forward for election to the District Council. He expressed his thanks to Councillor Molineux for arranging with the District Council for the pruning of a lime tree in front of his property.